From which city did Greeck civilization begin?

The Greek civilization, which is considered the cradle of Western culture, primarily began in the city of Knossos on the island of Crete. This earliest phase is known as the Minoan civilization (c. 2700–1450 BCE). Knossos served as the political and ceremonial center of this culture, characterized by its sophisticated palace architecture, vibrant frescoes, and early writing systems.

Following the Minoan period, the center of Greek influence shifted to the mainland, specifically to the city of Mycenae, marking the Mycenaean period. These early Bronze Age civilizations laid the essential cultural, religious, and social foundations for the later Classical Greek city-states such as Athens and Sparta.